October 22, 2008
For Immediate Release
For more information: David Keller, (801) 863-6363
University Marketing & Communications: Erin Spurgeon, (801) 863-6807
Written by: Hanna Hopkinson, (801) 863-7205
Christ Presbyterian Church and the Atheists of Utah will debate over the role of religion in politics and public policy in the University of Utah’s Orson Spencer Hall Auditorium Oct. 25 at 2 p.m.
The debate is titled “God and Politics: An Unholy Alliance?” On the affirmative side arguing for a distinct and permanent separation between church and state, will be Dr. David Keller, professor of philosophy at Utah Valley University. The opposition will be discussed by Mark Hausam, elder at Christ Presbyterian Church and adjunct instructor in philosophy at Salt Lake Community College.
“I decided to participate in this debate because I think a lot of Conservatives wrongly think that public policy should be based on religious principles,” Keller said. “Religious people should be the most adamant supports of the separation between Church and State; otherwise they could be in a position in which persons of other religions could actually pass laws limiting their freedom to practice religion.”
To Keller, believing in God is an illogical act. For Hausam, nothing about the universe or human existence can be explained without God. While the topic of this debate could not have come at a more appropriate time, days before a presidential election, or in a more appropriate place, conservative Utah, this is not the first instance that these two particular debaters will meet.
Last year, in an event sponsored by the Forum for Questioning Minds, there was a similar discussion on whether God exists. And, previous to that the two debaters discussed whether morality depends on God. Their debates, in-depth and well thought-out, traditionally draw a standing-room-only crowd. People line up at each audience microphone long after the discussion is supposed to have ended.
The Christ Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, a conservative and evangelical denomination. The Atheists of Utah is a nonprofit educational organization that promotes the separation of church and state.
The debate will be moderated by Dr. Deen Chatterjee, professor of philosophy at the University of Utah. The event is free and open to the public.
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